Fed cuts rates, TikTok still in limbo, and the media mega-merger to watch

Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster break down the Fed’s first rate cut in a year, new US income data, and what a “two-speed” economy means for brands. They cover TikTok’s uncertain US future, the rumored Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount mega-merger, billion-dollar sports rights, fresh AI usage insights from Anthropic and OpenAI, and the IPOs that could reshape ad spend transparency.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Fed’s Big Move – A quarter-point rate cut is here. What does it mean for the economy, the ad market, and the rest of 2025?
• Two-Speed Economy – Fresh Census data shows income gains for some groups, declines for others, and a widening gender pay gap. How are brands balancing premium products with value options?
• TikTok’s US Cliffhanger – Another deadline extension, a possible deal with US investors, and the big question: who controls the algorithm?
• A Media Mega-Merger? – If Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount join forces, they could dominate US TV ad sales, shake up sports rights, and rival Netflix in streaming scale.
• Sports & Ad Dollars – From the Super Bowl’s billion-dollar day to tech giants eyeing broadcast rights, what’s next for advertisers and networks?
• AI in the Real World – New data from Anthropic and OpenAI reveals how people are actually using AI — from coding to meal planning — and what it means for marketers.
• IPO Watchlist – Recent debuts like Klarna and Figma, plus private giants like ByteDance, OpenAI, and Shein that could reshape ad spend transparency.
• Looking Ahead – Industry events in Japan, upcoming inflation and consumer sentiment reports, and what to watch in Q4.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction & Fed Rate Cut Overview03:33 - US Income Data & Two-Speed Economy07:30 - TikTok’s Uncertain US Future11:00 - Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount Merger Analysis19:53 - Sports Rights, Super Bowl Economics & Media Competition21:12 - AI Adoption Trends from Anthropic & OpenAI28:39 - IPO Trends & Advertising Spend Visibility32:44 - Upcoming Events & Closing Remarks

Links:

• This Year Next Year MidYear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

• Anthropic (Claude) Economic Index interactive report: https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index

• OpenAI (ChatGPT) "How People Use ChatGPT": https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/a253471f-8260-40c6-a2cc-aa93fe9f142e/economic-research-chatgpt-usage-paper.pdf